Hike & Picnic at Solomon’s Rocks, Brasov, Romania

Solomon’s Rocks caught my eye while looking for a hike locally in Braşov in autumn. I enjoy a good walk and had a free day to do some freestyle walking. This was a great trail to explore in the early autumn. I chose a starting point at a church I had spotted on the outskirts of the city. I had admired this area from the top of Mount Tampa earlier in the week.

Biserica Sfânta Treime

I disembarked from a taxi at Biserica Sfânta Treime. This was a quick £2 journey from the town centre. Biserica Sfânta Treime, also known as the Church of St Trinity, is an Orthodox church with fantastic views from its grounds.

Hike to Solomon’s Rocks

From the church, I headed by road through the villages, then up a mountain valley until reaching Str. Valea Rece, where I turned off the road and into the woods. You can reach this point using the number 50 bus from Braşov. This bus ends at the picnic ground at Solomon’s Rocks.

There was a small stream on the str. Valea Rece was alongside the path, from which I then headed up some steep slopes into the woods. There was a semi-trodden trail through this area, which was constantly inclined and getting further from the roads. I checked good old Google Maps and was heading in the right direction. After a while, I could see the stones and cliffs of Solomon’s Rocks ahead. This was an ideal place to sit and enjoy the view. It was also an opportunity to catch my breath before descending a winding road into the rocks.

The Rocks – Pietrele Lui Solomon

I reached an opening which was quite impressive and was alone, or so I thought, in a very special environment. There were cliffs, trees, a stream, and stone pillars around me. I followed the stream down towards a picnic area to grab a seat and soak up the atmosphere. On one slope, a small group had set up a few hammocks in the trees and might have camped there or were setting up for some R&R.

Picnic Area

Next, I continued into a stone valley that led me to a picnic and barbecue area, where a few small groups were enjoying lunch. I sat at a nice table next to a stream; this time out with the Ursus for some local lager to refresh myself and enjoy the vibe of the area.

Pietrele lui Solomon

Solomon’s rocks, or Pietrele Lui Solomon, are in the north-western part of the Postăvarul Massif. Just between Mount Tâmpa and the Stejerișul Mare nature reserve, being crossed by the Valea cu Apă river, a tributary of the Șcheiu River.

Solomon’s stones represent a natural area in whose territory there are several geological formations. This includes limestone cliffs, rocks, crevices and towers. The area is very biodiverse and has a wide variety of fauna, birds and mammals. Some local mammals you may spot include bears, wild boars, martens, lynxes, and foxes.

Walk to Poiana Braşov

After enjoying the surroundings and a few drinks in the stunning surroundings, I was in a quandary. I had brought with me far too little to drink to stay hydrated, and the weather was warm. The trail to Poiana Braşov is uphill all the way. I was in two minds but went to find the start of the marked route and, lo and behold, spotted locals filling bottles from a spring.

Drinking Mountain Spring Water

I had empty bottles too, so I joined the queue to fill mine up. The water from the spring was delicious and ice-cold. This was very welcome and enabled me to continue on the adventure rather than getting a bus back to Braşov.

Start of Forest Trail

They clearly mark the entrance to the marked path to Poiana. It leaves the road near the bus stop and car park.

This was a steep, serpentine section for the first part of the route. There were spots to enjoy the views when the trees allowed. This might be different during winter, and I’m intrigued to find out. After the steep ascent, the path levelled out and headed along the top of a wooded valley, a spot where I sat on a tree off the path, hydrating with the spring water I had got earlier. I sat in silence, hoping to spot some local wildlife; I heard movement but spotted nothing other than birds enjoying the day.

The Road to Poiana Braşov

I then continued uphill until I hit the main road into Poiana Braşov. I bumped into some fellow hikers, a Romanian couple. The girl was a seasoned hiker, but the guy was very concerned with bears and wanted to know if I had seen one. This raised a smile because of the girl’s reaction to the fear.

The Ski Resort out of season

Next, I followed a path alongside the road into the ski resort. As it was not skiing season, most places on the way seemed closed for mid-afternoon drinking.

I finally found somewhere with activity, got a table, enjoyed an Ursus beer, and admired the mountains.

I explored the mountain resort for a while, then returned to Braşov on the number 20 bus.